Our local chicken source is from Joe Pestana and the Sixes River Ranch. Joe will be providing chicken all summer long, and into the Fall, in limited numbers. The chickens are COBB 700 broilers. The chicks spend the first 15-21 days of their life inside a brooder in the barn as they grow enough feathers to survive in the pasture. Once big enough, out in the fields they go until they are processed at 8 weeks of age. While in the fields, these birds are kept in large portable open bottom cages that are moved daily so the birds always have fresh clean grass beneath their feet. These fast growing birds can be anywhere between 3.5 to 5.5 lbs after processing (fresh, whole birds, giblets included).
The first chicks arrived on 5 May and will be processed on 1 July - ready for pickup at the Langlois Market 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM on the same day (or can be picked up Thursday at any time). The birds will be processed at a state inspected processing plant, vacuum sealed, and labeled with weight and processing date (see http://www.rainshadowelrancho.com), and are for sale to individuals, restaurants, and grocery stores. With multiple processing days this summer, Joe is encouraging people to buy often and eat them fresh. However, if you like to stock up and freeze your birds, large orders are also fine.
Either way, please call or email (or mail) your orders ahead of time. 2009’s “call-ahead” order price is $2.99/lb.
 
 
 
 
 
Joe’s Contact Information
Joe Pestana
P.O. Box 1011
Langlois, OR 97450
Email Joe
541-260-8969
 
Birds and Availability:

• Wednesday, 1 July: 100 birds (12 unclaimed)
• Wednesday, 22 July: 100 birds (73 remaining)
• Wednesday, 29 July: 100 birds  (73 remaining)
• Wednesday, 5 Aug: 100 birds (78 remaining)
• Wednesday, 12 Aug: 100 birds (78 unclaimed)
• Wednesday, 19 Aug: (88 birds unclaimed)

 
Chicken’s Diet information (know what you’re eating ate):

• Brooder time: CHS Chick Starter .  This starter feed is the first 0.50 lb of food each bird will eat (1st week). Chicks are also given small grit for their gullets and oyster shells for calcium.
• Pasture time: Fryer Ration – Un-medicated/No Antibiotics This fryer ration will be the used as the last 15 to 20 lbs of food each bird will consume prior to processing (2nd-8th week).
• Chickens are also free to eat any grass/legume/ or bug they come across.
• Lots of Fresh water
• Lots of Sunshine
• Lots of Fresh Air
• Lots of fresh green pastures on the Sixes River that have NO chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.
• Low Stress with lots of space for each bird
• No De-Beaking

(If you’d like to see how your chicken is raised first hand just call Joe for a free-tour).